Learn how to keep your child safe on the school bus.

School Bus Stop Law

Crossing Procedures

Morning Crossing  | Cruce de la Mañana
Afternoon Crossing | Cruce de la Tarde

  • A trusted adult should be at your child’s bus stop every morning and every evening.
  • Children should be cautioned about the danger of strangers.
  • Be at least five minutes early to catch the bus.
  • There are blind spots where the bus driver can lose sight of a child:
  • FRONT DANGER ZONE – It’s never safe to walk close to the front of the bus. Children should walk five GIANT steps ahead of the bus before crossing in front of it.
  • SIDE DANGER ZONE – Children should always stay three GIANT steps away from the side of the bus.
  • REAR DANGER ZONE – NEVER walk behind the school bus.
  • Walk (don’t run) three GIANT steps away from the bus when getting off. When the bus approaches, step back from the curb at least three GIANT steps.
  • NEVER run to catch the bus.
  • If you have to walk on roads where there is no sidewalk, walk against traffic and out of the road.
  • Stay out of the road, and wait for the bus to stop BEFORE you WALK to it.
  • Make sure you can see the bus driver’s eyes when boarding or crossing in front of the bus.
  • If you must cross the street to get to the bus, always look left, then right, then left again.
  • Use the handrail when you get off the bus.
  • Make sure there are no dangling pieces of clothing, drawstrings on hoods, untied shoestrings, key chains or backpack straps that could get caught on the handrail or in the bus door.
  • If you drop something under or near the bus, DON’T pick it up until you tell the bus driver. Otherwise, the driver may not see you.
  • If you leave something on the bus, DON’T run after the bus to get it.
  • Stay away from the bus wheels, and watch for moving cars.